Celestials and a Demon prince

Chapter 9: Executioner

It was dead silence and the only voice that she could hear was the one in her head, was she dead? It didn't hurt as much but then the air felt same and nothing out of the ordinary. She opened her eyes slowly, much to her surprise the execution swords were close to her throat, it would take only take a tiny push and her throat would be bleeding from the tear. She looked across the high wall where the king sat and there she got her answers. The king had stopped the execution right on time and thanks to him she was alive. She let out a sigh of relief as the executioners withdrew their sword. She let her head fall and smiled viciously within. Of course he took the bait, there was no prove that she was a witch and more so, he cared about his reputation. If words had gotten out that the king had ordered the execution of a person when it was not proven that she was a witch, he'd be labelled as both a mad an insecure king just like he had been called when he began his unnecessary killings in the past. Also proving that she was not a witch was to his benefit which meant that he had indeed gotten rid of them all.

He intentionally ordered the execution way earlier than it was supposed to be, fully aware that the compeller had not done much harm within two days to stop her from saving herself if truely she was a witch, the fake execution was a test to confirm that, and since she did not save herself it only meant that he was wrong. Fiona as a slave creature was bound to be loyal no matter what, even if she had the full strength to escape she wouldn't. As her nature compelled her never to return to her mistress until she had accomplished a task even if it meant dying in the process. She got her chance and she was going to take advantage of it.

Edgar was moved to look at the king when the execution stopped and to his surprise the king had indeed stopped it from happening, he blinked as a sparkle of hope lit up in his eyes. He wasn't going to kill her, it was all a test, his lips curved into a smile realizing that, while the officials present had a confused expression on their face.

King Egbert signaled again and soon the executioner's left the scene while the soldiers on guard began untying her from the stake. Usually before the executioners let their swords fall on the accused they take one last glance at the king for permission to continue and his hands were raised before they could spill the blood. Fiona fell to her knees the moment they were done untying her and whimpered pretentiously convincing the crowd that she was truly innocent and harmless.

" Prepare the physician for a meeting with me tonight, I would like to know how she intends to help the princess." The king ordered and immediately Edgar swung into action. Relieved that everything had turned out so and expectant that Elnora would be saved.

" The maids will get you ready to dine with the King this night. If you need anything do well to let them know." Prince Edgar said to Fiona who was rather trying to hide her discomfort, not paying attention to what he was saying.

"Thank you, Your Highness." She curtsied and waited till he left the room where she was to get prepared. She stood straight and looked at the maids who held their heads slightly bent as they waited for her to give them permission to do their work. She eyed them disgusted by their presence, she held her breath as if trying to contain it before releasing her breath slowly. " You can leave now." She said with a calm tone but they stood still only raising their confused gaze to settle on her.

"Pardon milady but we were ordered to get you ready," one of the maids spoke.

"Well... I will need your help but I'd rather bath myself and wear my undergarments, you can stand outside the door and when I need your help I'll call you back in." She said trying not to sound rude. "I hope you understand me?" They hesitated before the second maid answered.

" We understand but however, we will take care of your hair and face do and inspect that your garment are properly fastened." The maid spoke calmly. "We hope you understand us milady."

Fiona chuckled unbelievably at her boldness before swallowing hard. "Alright that will do, you may leave now." They curtsied again before leaving her alone in the room. The moment she made sure they were gone she let down her composed act and began making slight animalistic noise as she scratched her knuckles hastily. She raised them up to her face and saw that they were already wrinkled. "No not so soon, that stupid compeller." She cursed gritting her teeth, by the next day her skin would be peeling off more, for now she was already getting wrinkled and her knuckles were starting to itch. She rushed to the dressing table grabbed the mirror on it and studied her face carefully. It looked fine at least for the moment, no one would suspect anything.

Then her furious gaze went to the bath tub entrance, she hated the fact that she had to immerse herself into scented water, clean water at that. She had been enduring the castle ever since she arrived. Nothing neat appeased her and even worse the cloth she had to wear. She had her bath hating every moment of it and when she was out she proceeded to wear her undergarments making sure that the maids didn't get the chance to see the rest of her wrinkled body. She then called in the maids who helped get her ready completely.

She was escorted to the dinning hall, when it was time, the king was present with the Queen as well as Edgar and their stare was rather welcoming than intimidating. "Your majesty, My Queen, Prince Edgar." She said as she curtsied.

"Come, sit with us." King Egbert directed her to a seat. "I must apologize for the ill treatment you received upon your arrival, know it that it was necessary." The king spoke when he saw that she was settled on a seat.

"I understand very well your majesty and I promise that by tomorrow you will have no worry about the princess. She looked down on the food before her and rather than a sweet smell it smelt horrible to her, human food was awful to her. She quickly adjusted her face not to seem unpleased. She was the last person to grab her spoon to eat and ate at a slower pace than the others.

"So tell me, how do you intend to help the princess? King Egbert paused to hear her reply.

" ... Years ago, my father and I had experienced a patient with a case like this, it was actually the second experience for my father but the first for me. He had come up with a solution which required the use of some very rare herbs which I brought along with me." She paused and watched their expression which pleased her. " It requires preparing the mixtures and heating it up in the room where the patient lies. As she inhales the steam it begins to travel round her body and gradually her senses responds till she is fully awake.

"I see, all it takes is some special kind of herb, very well I will let you rest tonight to regain your strength, tomorrow you must make sure to cure the princess."

"I have one question though," the Queen spoke.

"Yes your Highness."

"What could be the cause of it, did you and your father ever find out the cause of it."

She smiled knowingly, the Queen was wise to ask but the answer had been provided by her mistress before she left. " All related, another kind of rare herb used to induce long lasting sleep and whoever did it only has bad intentions for that."

"Oh ... The Queen relaxed back on her seat, Fiona could see the relieve on their faces at least it wasn't a spell by some witch.

"Your majesty, I do have one request."

"Go ahead."

" The herbs bear a strong smell that you would be sensitive to, so it would be better if I left alone with the princess."

"Really? And you will not be affected as well?" He questioned a hint of suspicion in his voice.

"I can handle it my King and as the physician I need to be present to oversee everything at least for the beginning part, when it gets to the extent I can't take it I'll leave and let the herbs do the work."

"Very well anything as long as the princess wakes up."

"Thank you Your Majesty." She smiled mischievously as she looked at the ignorant royal family,they were making things quite easy for her.

After dinner, she was escorted back to her chambers and there she vomited everything she had eaten, at midnight she let herself down the window and found her way to the woods where she dined on the flesh of insects and tiny crawling creatures.